Future Ducks legend
Joined: Jun. 2022
Posts: 9,821
Likes: 6,583
You guys can **** on Gibson until your heart's content, but he doesn't need, nor want a change of scenery, and Anaheim is very happy to keep him. We haven't been shopping him as so many pundits like to claim, but like any veteran player on the team, Verbeek is undoubtedly listening to offers.
The guy wants to be a lifetime Duck, and the fans want to keep him around too. He has been a work horse for us for years dragging straight up uncompetetive teams way further than they had any right in going.
As to the past couple of seasons, you put a natural competitor on a team you know won't make the post season and see if you can convince him to play his best hockey. When Gibson can see a chance at winning, he wheels out the old razzle dazzle and gets the job done, he is still a joy to watch play on those nights.
The Ducks are turning things around, and I don't think Buffalo is much further along in their rebuild, plus moving Gibson means calling up Dostal before the defense is solidified in front of him. Gibson and Stolarz are going to get absolutely shelled this season, but the young team will take steps forward to improve their play, and that should reinvigorate him.
He can return to form, we still see him flash it from time to time, and we have no hurt for cap space through the end of his deal, and no desire to move him, so if you want him, you pay through the teeth for him.